Method and system of using drill progression, skill mastery, and color progression in tennis instruction

ABSTRACT

A method and system of using drill progression, skill mastery, and colors to show progression in tennis instruction for a tennis player includes the steps of providing color levels to indicate proficiency of tennis ability, the color levels progressing from least to most proficient as follows: white, gold, orange, blue, dark blue, green, dark green, red, purple, grey, and black; testing the tennis player against predefined requirements for one or more of the color levels; providing feedback to the tennis player about the testing; awarding the tennis player with the color level if the predefined requirements are met; providing the tennis player with a grip or band for a tennis racket, the grip or band having a color corresponding to the awarded color level; and offering additional instruction to the tennis player to improve the tennis player&#39;s proficiency.

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to tennis instructional methods, particularly those with a motivational component.

BACKGROUND ART

Tennis instruction, particularly to children, is too often not exciting and lacking in motivational forces. This is because existing tennis instruction methods often do not have clear and achievable goals for the tennis player or instant or objective feedback on the player's progress. In addition, many methods require competition between tennis players, which may not be the best way to develop a particular player's skills. Furthermore, many existing methods lack structure and direction for the student of tennis. Others have entirely too much structure, requiring instructors to perform calculations or other complicated steps to determine the progress or ability level of a particular tennis player. Additionally, existing methods often permit players with an overall high ability level to advance even though the player is inadequate in a particular skill area.

As such, there is a need for a tennis instruction program that provides a fun environment to motivate players to develop their skills. There is also a need for a program that permits development of those skills without requiring competition between the players. There is further a need for an instructional program that provides clear and achievable goals for the tennis player and instant, objective feedback on the player's progress, both to the tennis player and to the tennis instructor. Additionally, there is a need for an instructional method that requires players to become proficient at each of the skills required for a level before advancing, minimizing the chance that a player that is very skilled in general will not be erroneously promoted if that player is inadequate in a particular skill area. Finally, there is a need for a structured, yet easily administered, tennis training method.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The disclosed method and system, presently marketed under the GRIPSTII trademark, is a way of teaching tennis that is fun, easy, and effective. The program is designed to actively progress a player's skill level from beginner to professional. Each of the skill levels is represented by a different color, where white typically represents a beginner and black represents the highest level of expertise. As players progress from white to black, they advance from basic ground strokes to more skill-oriented shots like angles, drop shots, and passing shots. Along the way, the drills incorporate more strategic play and tactical point development. The progression moves from basic consistency and directional control, to depth and accuracy, and finally to advanced strategy and tactics. The method provides an objective way to advance without requiring competition by providing clear and achievable goals to promote self-paced development.

For each color level, there is a corresponding instruction book to be used by a tennis instructor (i.e. teaching pro) to plan and run lessons. Each instruction book contains warm-up drills, feeding drills, live ball drills, footwork drills, and test questions, as well as practice tests for the skills tested at the next color level. The drills are appropriate for the skill level of the corresponding color and are designed to prepare players to advance to the next color level.

In order to advance, players typically must pass a written test and an on-court skills test. As players progress, they are awarded a colored tennis racket grip or band, the color corresponding to the color level of their tennis proficiency. This distinguishes the current method from previous methods in that players must master the skills required for each level before advancing. Existing methods often permit players with overall ability to advance even though the player is inadequate in a particular skill area.

In one broad aspect of the invention, a method of tennis instruction for a tennis player includes the steps of (1) providing color levels to indicate proficiency of tennis ability, the color levels progressing from least to most proficient as follows: white, gold, orange, blue, dark blue, green, dark green, red, purple, grey, and black; (2) testing the tennis player against predefined requirements for one or more of the color levels; (3) providing feedback to the tennis player about the testing; (4) awarding the tennis player with the color level if the predefined requirements are met; (5) providing the tennis player with a grip or band for a tennis racket, the grip or band having a color corresponding to the awarded level of proficiency; and (6) offering additional instruction to the tennis player to improve the tennis player's proficiency.

In a further aspect of the invention, a system for providing tennis instruction to a tennis player has (1) eleven skill levels, including a first skill level through an eleventh skill level; (2) eleven qualification standards, including a first qualification standard through an eleventh qualification standard, the first qualification standard through the eleventh qualification standard corresponding to the respective first skill level through the eleventh skill level; and (3) an allocated color for each of the eleven skill levels, the allocated color for the respective first skill level through the eleventh skill level being white, gold, orange, blue, dark blue, green, dark green, red, purple, grey, and black; wherein the tennis player is correlated to an allocated color based on having satisfied the respective qualification standard.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a chart showing the steps of a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction.

FIG. 2 is a chart showing a progression of color levels of a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction.

FIG. 3 is a graphical depiction of a colored grip and a colored band of a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction.

FIG. 4A is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level gold.

FIG. 4B is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level orange.

FIG. 4C is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level blue.

FIG. 4D is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level dark blue.

FIG. 4E is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level green.

FIG. 4F is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level dark green.

FIG. 4G is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level red.

FIG. 4H is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level purple.

FIG. 41 is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level grey.

FIG. 4J is a sample of an on-court test sheet in accordance with a version of a Method and System of Using Drill Progression, Skill Mastery, and Color Progression in Tennis Instruction for the color level black.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently-preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to represent the only forms in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. However, it is to be understood that the same or equivalent functions and sequences may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

With reference to the figures, a method of tennis instruction for a tennis player includes the steps of providing color levels 101 to indicate proficiency of tennis ability (step 10); testing the tennis player against predefined requirements 102 for one or more of the color levels 101 (step 20); providing feedback to the tennis player about the testing (step 30); providing feedback to a tennis instructor about evaluation of the tennis player and the development of the tennis player (step 40); awarding the tennis player with the tested color level 101 if the predefined requirements 102 are satisfied (step 50); providing the tennis player with a grip or band 103 for a tennis racket, the grip or band 103 having a color corresponding to the awarded color level 101 (step 60); and offering additional instruction to the tennis player to improve the tennis player's proficiency (step 70), whereby the tennis player is encouraged to seek the next color level 101 in the sequential progression. These steps are depicted graphically in FIG. 1.

In this way, the method provides a structured and objective way for the tennis player to advance in proficiency without requiring competition. The method also promotes both short-term and long-term player development by providing clear and achievable goals. The program is self-paced, providing for advancement when the tennis player is prepared for it. Such advancement is generally after one to six months at the most recently awarded color level 101.

The color levels 101 indicate the tennis player's proficiency, or level of skill, at tennis, where each of these skill levels is represented by a different color. Typically, the allocated color levels are ordered from least proficient (i.e. novice) to most proficient (i.e. professional player) as follows: white, gold, orange, blue, dark blue, green, dark green, red, purple, grey, and black. This progression is depicted graphically in FIG. 2. As players progress from the white to the black skill levels, they advance from basic ground strokes to more skill-oriented shots like angles, drop shots, and passing shots. Along the way, the drills incorporate more strategic play and tactical point development. The progression moves from basic consistency and directional control, to depth and accuracy, and then to advanced strategy and tactics. The drills are structured to advance a player from one color level to the next through developmental progression. As such, all players at a given color level have the same minimum level of skill, and they also have the same maximum level of skill since they would advance to the next higher level upon successfully demonstrating the next level of proficiency.

Typical skills indicative of each color level 101 are shown below:

White: For the white level, the tennis player learns basic technique and racket control. The tennis player is typically able to hit the ball over the net from the baseline.

Gold: At the gold level, the tennis player is able to execute technique and racket control and to put balls in the court. The tennis player's improved racket control generally allows him or her to control the ball crosscourt or down the line. Tennis players at this skill level are also typically able to hit forehand and backhand volleys down the line (i.e. the side line or the alley line).

Orange: At the orange level, the tennis player has basic technique and can begin point play. The tennis player typically has achieved basic consistency on crosscourt and down-the-line groundstrokes. Players at this level have generally successfully controlled forehand and backhand volleys down the line and typically have the ability to begin points with a serve.

Blue: For the blue level, the tennis player begins to develop point patterns and a variety of shots. Players at this level typically have directional control of groundstrokes, have begun to demonstrate the backhand slice, overhead, serve, and returns, and have shown control of crosscourt volleys. The tennis player can also generally feed a ball and rally mini tennis consistently, where mini tennis is played on a reduced-size court using only the service boxes for play.

Dark Blue: For the dark blue level, the tennis player generally plays tennis as a physical workout and is able to play matches. The tennis player typically can control direction and service-line depth on forehands, backhands, volleys, and overheads. Players at this level typically can hit wide and T serves and can direct their returns crosscourt or down the line. A dark blue tennis player also generally understands how tournaments work.

Green: At the green level, players can play matches and have the need to learn more patterns and strategies. The tennis player typically can hit beyond the depth line on groundstrokes; volleys and the backhand slice are generally becoming consistent and past the service line. Players at this level are typically gaining better control of serves, overhead direction and depth, and can hit angles and drop shots.

Dark Green: At the dark green level, a tennis player knows advanced strategies and works on execution. The tennis player typically has learned to control groundstrokes and volleys beyond the depth line, and the overhead is generally now accurate and deep. Players at this level typically have exhibited the ability to hit forehands and backhands on the run. Players can now generally hit T, body, and wide serves with some consistency. Backhand slices and returns are generally consistent and accurate. A topspin lob is typically added to this player's skills.

Red: For the red level, the tennis player starts to resemble advanced players, and works on conditioning, advanced point patterns, and better match play. Tennis players at this level typically have demonstrated control of groundstrokes to the outside third of the court. Volleys are generally consistently past the depth line, and serving is typically more accurate to the T, body, and wide targets. Drop shots, returns, backhand slices, and angles have all typically become more consistent.

Purple: At the purple level, the tennis player plays a lot of matches and works out to perform better in matches. Players at this level generally have improved precision of groundstrokes to the outside third of the court and past the service line, and typically volley and overhead depth and direction are accurate. Serves have generally improved to one-third lanes, and returns typically have directional precision. The tennis player can now generally hit combinations and sequences of shots consistently.

Grey: At the grey level, players consider themselves advanced tournament players, although they have not yet mastered the game. The tennis player has typically further improved control of groundstrokes to the outside third of the court and past the service line. Volleys and overhead depth and precision are typically excellent, and control of service is generally at a professional level, meaning at a high level of consistency and control. Players at this level typically can hit consistent topspin lobs and slices past the service line and directed to the targets.

Black: At the black level are professional tennis players who have mastered the game. All components of serves, groundstrokes, transition shots, and the net game typically are precise. Mastery over nerves and pressure is generally evident, and nutrition, strategy, and tournament play have also typically been mastered.

When tennis players first begin the program, they are given an initial placement test to determine the appropriate color level in which to start them. This initial test is an assessment of the player's skill and knowledge level. To advance to the next color level, players typically must pass a written test and an on-court skills test, both of which test the tennis player against predefined requirements 102. If the predefined requirements 102 are met, the player is advanced to the next level. Feedback and other evaluative information are generally provided to the tennis player regarding the written test and an on-court skills test. The same information may be provided to a tennis instructor to assess to player's development and progression.

To place a player in the appropriate color level 101 (whether initially or for subsequent levels), an instructor, program administrator, or other designated person may refer to a placement matrix. Such a placement matrix typically lists each color level 101 along with the minimum skills required for each such level. For example, each of the color levels may be listed as row headings down the left side of the placement matrix, and the tested skills may be listed as column headings across the top of the placement matrix. Where each row and column intersects, a corresponding metric is provided for the particular color level 101 and tested skill. The metric may be a specific number of times that the skill must be successfully demonstrated, a certain time in which the tested skill must be completed, a percentage of questions that must be correctly answered, or another such standard of measurement. As such, the placement matrix provides a graphical depiction of where the particular player's skills fit into the progression of color levels 101.

While at a particular color level 101, the player typically participates in instructional drills that are structured to advance the player from their present color level 101 to the next color level 101 through developmental progression. These instructional drills generally include warm-up drills, feeding drills, live ball drills, and footwork drills, and they are designed to help a player improve his or her coordination, ball skills, body movements, and endurance.

As noted previously, a player is advanced to the next color level 101 once the predefined requirements 102 are met for that level. Reference is made to FIG. 4A through FIG. 4J, where exemplary sets of predefined requirements 102, or qualification standards, are given for the on-court skills for the gold through black color levels 101. Though only expressly labeled in FIG. 4A, those items listed under the label “Skills” in each of FIGS. 4B through 4J are also exemplary sets of predefined requirements 102. There typically is either no on-court test to qualify for the white level, or there is a rudimentary on-court test. The on-court skills portion generally includes demonstration of the practical skills of tennis, such as those involving handling the racket, executing serves and shots, as well as physical conditioning.

The written portion generally includes testing the tennis player's knowledge of different aspects of tennis, such as tennis courts and equipment, professional tennis, nutrition, fitness, tournament play, styles of play, responses to an opponent's mode of play, tennis rules, and the physical aspects of training. There is no requirement that the written portion be actually composed in writing. In some versions, for example, the prompts and responses may be communicated orally or via the Internet. Some examples of prompts for the written portion are:

-   -   (a) Name the Grand Slam tournaments and the surface each is         played on.     -   (b) Describe a good meal to eat, and how long after your match         you should eat it, if you have just finished your last match of         the day on Saturday at 2 p.m.     -   (c) Name the lines on a tennis court.     -   (d) Name the three spins you can use on your serve.     -   (e) True or False? A player may take a medical time-out for an         injury.     -   (f) If your break strings during a point, what should you do to         finish the point?     -   (g) How do you play against an aggressive baseliner?     -   (h) Where should you aim on your poach in doubles?     -   (i) True or False? At high altitude, it is better to hit flatter         and deeper than at sea level.

As players advance, they are awarded a colored designator 103, such as a tennis racket grip, band, strip, or cord, where the color of the colored designator 103 corresponds to the color level of their tennis proficiency. The colored designator 103 generally being shaped and dimensioned to fit on or around a tennis racket handle. FIG. 3 depicts a band-type and a grip-type colored designator 103, though typically only one would be used on the player's racket.

Once a new level is attained, additional instruction may be offered and provided to the tennis player to improve the tennis player's proficiency and permit them to advance to further color levels 101. This additional instruction would typically take the form of further instructional drills and practice written and on-court tests.

For each color level 101, there is a corresponding instruction book to be used by the instructor to plan and run lessons. Each instruction book contains warm-up drills, feeding drills, live ball drills, footwork drills, and tests, as well as practice tests for the skills tested at the next color level 101. The drills are appropriate for the skill level of the corresponding color and are developed and arranged to prepare players to advance to the next color level 101. Preferably, the instruction book is a separate volume for each color level 101, since that will permit the instruction book to be of a convenient size. It is equally contemplated, however, that the instruction books for all levels may be combined into a single volume. In addition to the instruction book for each color level 101, there may be an instructor's manual to provide information beneficial to the tennis instructor.

A further aspect of the invention provides certification for testers or instructors. As such, tennis pros become certified to administer the method to their student tennis players. Certification helps to ensure and maintain the quality of the testing experience, the consistency of the testing procedures, and the accuracy of the testing results. To become certified, a tennis instructor will typically be required to review instructional materials (which may include a DVD and study guide), take a written test based on those materials, and demonstrate the ability to conduct the initial placement and on-court tests.

Typically, all color level tests, with the possible exception of the white level test, are given by certified testers or instructors. Furthermore, black level tests are typically administered by one of the founders of the disclosed method.

There may also be an online component to the method, where the written tests (i.e. the instructor certification and the color level tests for the tennis players) may be administered online via an Internet website. As such, the prompts for the written test may be presented through the website, and the test-taker may complete the test by entering his or her responses to those prompts through the website. The Internet website may also provide a list of players along with their corresponding color level. Once a player has passed the test for the next level, their advancement is typically recorded on the website.

While the present invention has been described with regards to particular embodiments, it is recognized that additional variations of the present invention may be devised without departing from the inventive concept.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

This invention may be applied to the instruction of tennis. 

1. A method of tennis instruction for a tennis player coached by a tennis instructor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing color levels to indicate proficiency of tennis ability, the color levels progressing from least to most proficient as follows: white, gold, orange, blue, dark blue, green, dark green, red, purple, grey, and black; (b) conducting an initial assessment of the tennis player to determine a starting color level; (c) placing the tennis player in the starting color level; (d) coaching the tennis player in tennis skills; (e) certifying the tennis instructor by requiring the tennis instructor to complete a written test and demonstrate an ability to conduct the initial assessment and evaluate the on-court skills of the tennis player, the written test being completed through an Internet website; (f) evaluating the tennis player against predefined requirements for one or more of the color levels, the evaluation including a written portion and an on-court portion, the written portion being administered through an Internet website; (g) providing feedback to the tennis player about the evaluation; (h) providing feedback to the tennis instructor about the evaluation of the tennis player; (i) awarding the tennis player with the color level if the predefined requirements are met for that color level; (j) providing the tennis player with a grip or band for a tennis racket, the grip or band having a color corresponding to the awarded color level; and (k) offering additional instruction to the tennis player to improve the tennis player's proficiency; whereby the tennis player is encouraged to improve tennis skills and seek the next color level in the progression.
 2. The method of claim 1, the on-court portion of the step of evaluating the tennis player comprising the following, per color level: (a) for the white level, successfully demonstrating an ability to hit a tennis ball over a tennis net from a tennis court baseline; (b) for the gold level, successfully demonstrating an ability to control the tennis ball crosscourt or down a tennis court side line and to hit a forehand volley and a backhand volley down the side line; (c) for the orange level, successfully demonstrating an ability to control a forehand volley and a backhand volley down the side line and an ability to begin points with a serve; (d) for the blue level, successfully demonstrating an ability to directionally control groundstrokes, perform a backhand slice, an overhead, a serve, and a return, and control a crosscourt volley; (e) for the dark blue level, successfully demonstrating an ability to control direction and service-line depth on forehands, backhands, volleys, and overheads, hit wide serves and T serves, and direct a return crosscourt or down the side line; (f) for the green level, successfully demonstrating an ability to hit beyond a depth line on groundstrokes, consistently strike a volley and a backhand slice past the service line, and hit an angle shot and a drop shot; (g) for the dark green level, successfully demonstrating an ability to control groundstrokes and volleys beyond the depth line, strike an overhead accurately and deeply, hit a forehand and a backhand on the run, hit T, body, and wide serves with consistency, and strike backhand slices and returns consistently and accurately; (h) for the red level, successfully demonstrating an ability to control a groundstroke to the outside third of the court, consistently strike a volley past the depth line, accurately perform T, body, and wide serves, and consistently execute a drop shot, return, backhand slice, and angle shot; (i) for the purple level, successfully demonstrating an ability to precisely execute a groundstroke to the outside third of the court and past the service line, accurately volley and overhead in both depth and direction, serve to one-third lanes, return with directional precision, and hit combinations and sequences of shots consistently; (j) for the grey level, successfully demonstrating an ability to control multiple groundstrokes to the outside third of the court and past the service line, precisely and deeply strike volleys and overheads, control service at a professional level, and consistently hit a topspin lob and a slice past the service line and directed to a target; and (k) for the black level, successfully demonstrating an ability to precisely execute all components of serves, groundstrokes, transition shots, and the net game.
 3. A method of tennis instruction for a tennis player to be taught by a tennis instructor, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing color levels to indicate tennis skill level, the color levels, progressing from lowest to highest skill level, being as follows: white, gold, orange, blue, dark blue, green, dark green, red, purple, grey, and black; (b) testing the tennis player against qualification standards for one or more of the color levels; (c) providing evaluative information to the tennis player regarding the testing; and (d) awarding the tennis player with the color level if the qualification standards for that color level are met.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of providing the tennis player with a colored designator, the colored designator having a color corresponding to the awarded color level and being shaped and dimensioned to fit over a tennis racket handle.
 5. The method of claim 4, the colored designator comprising a tennis racket grip.
 6. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of conducting a preliminary assessment of the tennis player to determine a starting color level.
 7. The method of claim 3, the step of testing the tennis player comprising administering a test having a knowledge portion and a practical skills portion.
 8. The method of claim 7, the knowledge portion being administered through a website.
 9. The method of claim 7, the knowledge portion comprising questions regarding one or more of the following tennis topics: tennis courts, equipment, professional tennis, tournament play, styles of play, responses to an opponent's mode of play, tennis rules, nutrition, fitness, and the physical aspects of training.
 10. The method of claim 7, the practical skills portion comprising demonstrating a predetermined quantity of forehand shots down the line, forehand shots crosscourt, backhand shots down the line, and backhand shots crosscourt.
 11. The method of claim 10, the practical skills portion further comprising demonstrating a predetermined quantity of serves, overheads, and drop shots.
 12. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of certifying the tennis instructor.
 13. The method of claim 12, the step of certifying the tennis instructor comprising having the tennis instructor complete a written test and demonstrate an ability to test the tennis player against the qualification standards.
 14. The method of claim 13, the written test being completed through a website.
 15. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of offering additional instruction to the tennis player to improve the tennis player's proficiency.
 16. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of providing an instruction book corresponding to each color level, the instruction book being used by the tennis instructor to teach the tennis player.
 17. A system for providing tennis instruction to a tennis player, the system comprising: (a) eleven skill levels, progressively comprising a first skill level through an eleventh skill level; (b) eleven qualification standards, progressively comprising a first qualification standard through an eleventh qualification standard, the first qualification standard through the eleventh qualification standard corresponding to the respective first skill level through the eleventh skill level; and (c) an allocated color for each of the eleven skill levels, the allocated color for the respective first skill level through the eleventh skill level being white, gold, orange, blue, dark blue, green, dark green, red, purple, grey, and black; wherein the tennis player is correlated to an allocated color based on having satisfied the respective qualification standard.
 18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a colored designator, the colored designator having a color corresponding to one allocated color and being shaped and dimensioned to fit around a tennis racket handle.
 19. The system of claim 17, further comprising an instruction book corresponding to each allocated color, each instruction book describing one or more drills to teach the tennis player at least one tennis skill.
 20. The system of claim 17, further comprising an Internet website for interaction with the tennis player, the Internet website providing tennis education materials and a list of tennis players along with each tennis player's correlated allocated color. 